188: Chapter 188 Who Gave You the Courage?

Rainwater dripped down Lu Chen's jaw.

The middle-aged high-ranking official's leather shoes splashed through the puddles, stopping two meters in front of Lu Chen. He reached toward his lower back and pulled out a black standard-issue pistol.

The muzzle was pointed directly at Lu Chen's chest.

"If the summons doesn't work, then we'll proceed according to wartime anti-terrorism regulations," the middle-aged high-ranking official said, his voice laced with ruthlessness. "Hands on your head, squat down."

The electronic eyes beneath Da Biao's mask flashed red instantly. Fifty heavily armed security guards stepped forward in unison, their mechanical legs making the ground tremble.

Lu Chen had his hands in the pockets of his old jacket, not even blinking an eyelash.

He looked down at the pitch-black muzzle and curled the corner of his mouth.

"Director Zhao brought 50 billion to buy equipment, and I made him wait in line," Lu Chen said, lifting his eyelids to stare at the middle-aged man. "You think you can come and wreck my place with a piece-of-junk gun? Who gave you the gall?"

The middle-aged man's finger rested on the trigger, his face dark to the extreme.

"Chenguang Factory is suspected of endangering national security. I am representing the Red Flag Department to formally take over this place," the middle-aged man said, gritting his teeth. "Lu Chen, stop trying to scare me with your tricks. No matter how well your chassis can fly, it can't stop bullets."

Da Biao lifted a half-ton solid steel I-beam with one hand, his hydraulic pump letting out a dull roar.

"Boss, shall I crush his head?" Da Biao asked in a muffled voice.

Lu Chen ignored Da Biao and just looked quietly at the middle-aged man.

"Take me over?" Lu Chen sneered. "Call your master right now. Ask him if he dares to take over Jiangcheng."

The middle-aged man snorted and was about to speak.

The encrypted red satellite phone in his pocket suddenly emitted a sharp alarm.

This was the Red Flag Department's highest-level mandatory access line. It only rang when there was a major national crisis.

The middle-aged man's face changed. Holding the gun in one hand, he quickly pulled out the phone with the other and pressed the answer button.

"Hello, this is..."

"Put the gun down. Get out of Jiangcheng." A furious roar came from the other end of the phone.

The middle-aged man was stunned. He could recognize that this was the voice of the Red Flag Department's highest leader. Usually, in the capital, this top superior didn't even show a hint of emotion when speaking.

Now, the other party's voice was trembling.

"Superior, I have already controlled Lu Chen," the middle-aged man hurriedly reported. "Director Li Jianguo has also been detained by me. I will be able to take over their financial and technical data immediately."

The other end of the phone was silent for a second.

Immediately after, a storm of scolding smashed through the receiver.

"Is your brain filled with sewage?" the highest leader said, his voice hoarse. "Who told you to go to Jiangcheng? Who gave you the right to draw a weapon? Put the gun away immediately. If you dare point a gun at him again, I will strip you of your position right now and send you to a military tribunal."

The middle-aged man was completely bewildered.

"Superior, he's just someone who runs a factory..." the middle-aged man was still unwilling to give up.

"Shut up." An old but extremely penetrating voice suddenly cut into the call channel. "Put the phone on speaker."

Upon hearing this voice, the middle-aged man's hand trembled, and the pistol almost fell to the ground.

This was the voice of the old man from that courtyard in Houhai.

The middle-aged man didn't even dare to breathe; he tremblingly pressed the speakerphone button.

"Lu Chen," the old man's voice came through the speaker into the rainstorm. "My subordinate doesn't understand the rules. I will give you an explanation for what happened tonight. The head of the Red Flag Department is standing right next to me, and tomorrow he will personally go to Jiangcheng to serve you tea and apologize."

Lu Chen pulled his hand out of his pocket and took the phone from the middle-aged man.

"Apologies aren't necessary," Lu Chen said in a flat tone. "I'm not short of people to pour tea."

The middle-aged man stood to the side, his back soaked through with cold sweat. A moment ago he was pointing a gun at Lu Chen, and now his direct superior on the other end of the line didn't even dare to let out a fart.

"I've watched the video of your chassis levitation test three times," the old man's voice was filled with unconcealable fanaticism. "The laws of physics have been rewritten in Jiangcheng. Lu Chen, you've won glory for China. Tell me what materials you need. The national treasury is open to you."

Lu Chen glanced at the middle-aged man.

"There's a large shortage of materials," Lu Chen said. "I need 100,000 tons of special titanium alloy. It must arrive in Jiangcheng within three days."

A sharp intake of breath came from the other end of the phone.

100,000 tons of special titanium alloy. This wasn't a figure the private sector could even touch. The entire annual production of China was only a few tens of thousands of tons, all controlled by the military and aerospace departments.

"No problem," the old man agreed immediately. "I'll approve it for you. Anything else?"

"I've taken over the logistics of the twelve coastal financial conglomerates," Lu Chen continued. "But civilian transport capacity can't haul 100,000 tons of titanium alloy. I need an absolutely secure channel."

"I'll build you a road," the old man said decisively.

Lu Chen threw the phone back into the middle-aged man's arms.

"Get lost," Lu Chen said, not even glancing at him again. "Go back and tell your master not to test my bottom line again."

The middle-aged man took the phone, his face deathly pale. He didn't dare say a word, put away his gun, and turned to dive into his Red Flag car like a stray dog.

A dozen cars turned around and fled from the South Second Gate like madmen.

Da Biao spat and put away the I-beam.

The Capital. Western Hills Underground Command Center.

The old man hung up the red phone and turned to look at the head of the Red Flag Department standing to the side.

The leader's face was ashen, his forehead covered in sweat. The old man's warning just now was equivalent to stripping the Red Flag Department of all authority over Chenguang Factory.

"Superior, 100,000 tons of special titanium alloy," a general in military uniform stepped forward, lowering his voice. "More than half of the stock in our strategic reserve will be drained. To transport it to Jiangcheng within three days, the existing railway lines simply can't handle it. This will affect the normal operations of several military industrial bases."

The old man waved his hand.

"If it affects operations, then halt work," the old man said, pressing both hands onto the tactical table. "Notify all major military factories that all ongoing conventional projects are to be suspended immediately. All special titanium alloy is to be supplied to Chenguang Factory in Jiangcheng as a priority."

The general's expression was solemn.

"What about the Ministry of Transport?" the general asked.

"Issue the highest-level classified order," the old man said, his eyes sharp. "Starting from tomorrow morning, suspend half of the civilian passenger railway lines in the three coastal provinces. All freight marshalling yards are to yield to the military."

The command hall was deathly silent.

Suspending half of the civilian passenger railway lines—this hadn't happened in decades.

"The East Sea Theater and the Central Theater will conduct a joint operation," the old man continued to order. "Draft elite troops. Assemble thirty-two extra-large armored special trains. Load all 100,000 tons of titanium alloy, along with all the aerospace aluminum and high-strength load-bearing steel, onto the trains."

"The special trains will not stop at any station along the way. They will be escorted by armed guards," the old man slammed his fist on the table. "Whoever dares to set up a blockade on the way is to be executed on the spot. Within three days, these materials must be delivered to Lu Chen."